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Warning: When I plugged a nice Lenz silver decoder into my infamous RTR HO MDC 2 truck shay, the center of the main chip on the decoder became red and produced a small column of smoke and a nasty smell turning the decoder into an expensive and short lived smoke generator.I checked the  NMRA plug and pins 1 & 8 were reversed, so pin 1 went to the right rail instead of motor right, and pin 8 went motor right instead of to the right rail. This is a sure way to toast a decoder.Luckily, Bruce at Litchfield Station was able to replace the decoder under warranty; otherwise, I'd be out about $30. I say infamous because this is the model that, under DC, the motor would go but the wheels would not because all 4 wheel axle gears were split, DOA from the box. I bought a NWSL axle and bull gear replacement kits for about $40. The unit ran tight and I have not broken it in more than 30 minutes each direction.So, now I will fix the reversed wires and try the new decoder.Please check your MDC shay if you want to convert it to DCC!
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